Student Leadership and Activities

Web Page Expansions

The WOU Safe Zone program has added several pages for your information and resources. You can click on the links to the left to see these pages!

Safe Zone Birthday

The WOU Safe Zone program is having its second birthday! Join us on Thursday, April 30 at 11 a.m. in the WUC Oregon Room. Stu Rasmussen, trans-identified mayor of Silverton, Oregon will be joining us.

The Western Oregon University Safe Zone program seeks to form a network of students, faculty and staff committed and trained to provide safe, non-judgmental and supportive contacts for all WOU community members regarding gay, lesbian, bisexual, trans and queer (GLBTQ) issues. It is symbolic of a willingness and a commitment to provide an atmosphere of unqualified acceptance and assitance.

Safe Zone Committee

The WOU Safe Zone committee is composed of people committed to this issue of diversity on campus. Our group meets about every two weeks and subcommittees meet to move forward on important issues and topics. Here are the committee members:

• Jon Tucker, Werner University Center, Student Leadership & Activities
• Carli Rohner , Health and Counseling Center
• Luis Rosa, Director, Health and Counseling Center
• Angie Barry, Office Coordinator, WUC/SLA
• Dr. Emily Plec, Communications
• Dr. Mary Pettenger, Political Science
• Dr. Kim Jensen, History
• Shauna Haney, Student
• Melissa Lee, Student
• MyKala Stinson, Student
• Lori Hilterbrand, Library and Media Services
• Jeanne Deane, Social Sciences
• CM Hall, Western Region Interpreter Education Center
• Amanda Rodino, University Residences
• Ted DeChatelet, Theatre Department

Current Safe Zone Committee Projects

Currently, our committee is working on the following areas:

• The Safe Zone buttons and bumperstickers are a huge success! We've given out 2000 buttons and another 150 bumperstickers to the campus community.
• Working with programs and much more throughout the year -including offer multiple Ally trainings!
• Analyzing the role of Safe Zone in societal and campus-wide GLBTQ issues.
• Conducting ongoing educational efforts.
• Plan our first annual Trans awareness week.
• Work with our Safe Zone intern program.

If you or your organization is interested in a Safe Zone Training, fill out this online form to provide your trainers with information that would be helpful when working with you!

Click HERE to go to the Safe Zone Intake Form.

Safe Zone Imagery

Pink Triangle - Used to designate gay men in Nazi Germany - symbol used now to designate gay pride.
Black Triangle - Also used by the Nazis in Germany. Used to represent lesbian women as "political deviants" since they didn't acknowledge women loving women.
Rainbow Flag - Another image (either as a flag or just rainbow imagery) to show gay pride.
Blue and Pink Triangle - Bisexual pride symbol.
Lambda Symbol - From the Greek letter lambda as a symbol for the gay rights movement.
Green Circle - The green circle in a Safe Zone has represented a "safe space" surrounding the traditional triangle designs.
Trans. Symbol - Symbol signifying trans. awareness and support.

Contact Us

You can reach the Safe Zone committee with any concerns or questions at safezone@wou.edu.